Last night (Feb. 25), the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network hosted its fifth Annual Action Awards ceremony at Capitale in New York City. It was a star-studded event, as celebrities and music industry executives came together to honor those in the Hip-Hop community that have helped HSAN to invoke positive social change in the community.

Snoop Dogg, Jim Jones, Chris Lighty, Ciara, and Doug E. Fresh were among the celebrities who were honored for their contributions to the community. All the honorees received awards and took the stage to make their acceptance speeches. Jim Jones touched the audience with his hearfelt speech, thanking the HSAN's Dr. Benjamin Chavis for reaching out to him and recognizing his contributions. In this technology age, most of the honorees read their speeches from their blackberries, but Snoop Dogg had enough sense to be different.

Although many in the Hip-Hop community showed up, the dinner was a very calm and quiet affair. Among those in attendance to support their peers included LL Cool J, Pharrell and Damon Dash. Money raised from the dinner will be used to help support the HSAN's non-profit work.